Latest news with #HealthandSocialProtection
Morocco World
25-07-2025
- Health
- Morocco World
Morocco Launches 200 Health Facilities Across Eight Regions
Marrakech – The Minister of Health and Social Protection, Amine Tahraoui, launched 200 rural and urban health facilities across eight regions of Morocco on Friday in Errachidia. These facilities, which have been rehabilitated and equipped, are part of a larger national program to improve healthcare access throughout the country. The inauguration ceremony took place at the 'Al Qods' health center in Errachidia during celebrations for the 26th anniversary of the Throne Day. Regional health directors participated via videoconference alongside the Wali of the Drâa-Tafilalet region and Governor of Errachidia province, Essaid Zniber. The new healthcare facilities are distributed across multiple regions: 40 in Drâa-Tafilalet, 39 in Fès-Meknès, 5 in Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma, 10 in Béni Mellal-Khénifra, 24 in Marrakech-Safi, 21 in Souss-Massa, 31 in l'Oriental, and 30 in Guelmim-Oued Noun. In a press statement, Minister Tahraoui explained that this launch falls within the framework of a comprehensive program to rehabilitate and equip 1,400 health centers nationwide. The primary goal is to strengthen healthcare offerings and bring medical services closer to the population, promoting equity and equal access to healthcare for all citizens. These facilities will provide a diverse range of services, including general and specialized medical consultations, chronic disease monitoring, maternal and child health monitoring, school health services, nursing care, health education, and epidemiological surveillance. The ministry has mobilized specialized human resources to deliver medical and curative services to the populations served by these health facilities. Additionally, they have modernized and equipped these structures with high-quality, advanced biomedical equipment. Earlier this week, on Monday, Minister Tahraoui announced before the House of Representatives a national program to rehabilitate 83 hospitals with a total capacity of 8,700 beds. This includes 1,729 beds scheduled to be operational in 2025 and an additional 2,056 beds by 2028. Regarding rural healthcare specifically, Tahraoui indicated that 950 health centers have already been rehabilitated, with work on the remaining facilities expected to be completed by the end of 2025. He noted that 71% of national health infrastructure is located in rural areas, comprising 2,186 establishments, including 433 second-level health centers equipped with delivery units or emergency services. Tags: amine tahraouihealthcare in Morocco
Morocco World
21-07-2025
- Health
- Morocco World
Morocco Moves to Lower Medicine Costs, Expand Local Production
Rabat — Morocco's Minister of Health and Social Protection, Amine Tahraoui, on Monday presented to the House of Representatives an ambitious reform plan to overhaul the pricing system of medicines. The initiative forms part of the royal project to expand social protection and aims to improve access to affordable healthcare while strengthening Morocco's pharmaceutical sovereignty. Speaking during a question session at the lower house of parliament, Tahraoui outlined the key pillars of the reform, which include a structural revision of Morocco's pharmaceutical policy, expansion of local production, and modernization of supply chains. He stressed that the new pricing model seeks to ensure fairness in access to treatments, support citizens' purchasing power, and maintain the quality and availability of medicines at reasonable costs. The reform is anchored in the framework law 06.22 on the national health system, which establishes a policy guaranteeing the availability, quality, and affordability of health products. Tahraoui noted that drug expenditures continue to weigh heavily on both Moroccan households and public finances, particularly as the mandatory health coverage program has expanded. Between 2022 and 2024, reimbursements for medicines alone rose by 31%, he said. Recognizing these pressures, the government has made revising medicine pricing a strategic priority, balancing social and economic considerations. Over 30 consultation meetings have been held with key stakeholders — including pharmaceutical manufacturers, pharmacists, and insurers — to reach a consensus on a draft decree. Now in its final stages, the draft is expected to be submitted to the Government Council soon. According to the minister, the proposed model introduces several key measures: shortening the timelines for price reviews, phasing in the changes to preserve market stability, maintaining low prices for essential medicines, and encouraging domestic production. Beyond pricing, the ministry is also launching a series of institutional and technological initiatives to modernize the sector. Tahraoui announced the establishment of the Moroccan Agency for Medicines and Health Products, created under law 10.22, which will oversee implementation of the reforms. The agency will also spearhead a digital transformation program, including digitized procedures, the use of artificial intelligence to assess clinical trials, and an integrated electronic platform for monitoring and management. Additionally, a national drug observatory will be set up to monitor prices, anticipate supply shortages, and analyze market trends. To address inefficiencies in the public health supply chain , which has an annual budget of 3.6 billion dirhams, the ministry plans to roll out a unified national logistics platform. This system is designed to reduce waste caused by stockouts and expired medicines and is expected to be deployed gradually over the next 18 months. On the vaccination front, Tahraoui highlighted progress on the 'Marbio' project in Benslimane, which aims to meet 100% of the country's vaccine needs by 2027. Contracts have already been signed to supply three key vaccines — pneumococcal, meningococcal, and hexavalent — with over MAD 1 billion allocated to producing 5.4 million doses between 2025 and 2026. The first batch of locally manufactured vaccines is anticipated before the end of 2025. This comprehensive reform package shed light on Morocco's commitment to making healthcare more affordable and accessible while fostering a resilient, self-sufficient pharmaceutical sector in line with national development goals. Tags: medicinces pricesmedicines in Moroccopharmaceutical regulation
Morocco World
27-05-2025
- Health
- Morocco World
Measles Cases Drop 80% in Morocco as Vaccination Coverage Reaches 95%
Doha – Morocco has recorded an 80% decrease in measles cases compared to the peak registered 16 weeks ago, according to Health and Social Protection Minister Amine Tahraoui. Speaking at the House of Representatives in Rabat on Monday, Tahraoui announced that the national weekly incidence rate has fallen to just one case per 100,000 people. This reduction comes as a result of an intensive vaccination campaign implemented by the ministry following the initial outbreak. The campaign has successfully pushed the national vaccination coverage rate above 95% among children under 18 years old, meeting the threshold recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The health ministry has been working since the first cases appeared to develop a comprehensive national plan to combat the spread of measles, accompanied by various field measures. As of May 16, authorities had verified the vaccination status of more than 10.76 million children under 18, representing 98.57% of the target population. Through this process, 754,202 unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated children were identified. Through a large-scale field mobilization, 586,912 of these children have now been vaccinated, achieving a completion rate of approximately 78%. This has helped reduce the vaccination gap and limit the spread of the epidemic. The campaign has enabled the administration of a total of 801,702 doses of measles vaccine, including booster and preventive doses. Read also: 'Bouhemroun': Measles Outbreak Claims Lives in Morocco's Remote Regions The recent measles outbreak in Morocco hit concerning levels. WHO reported that from October 1, 2023, to April 13, 2025, the North African country saw over 25,000 suspected measles cases across all 12 regions, including 13,706 confirmed infections and 184 deaths. The resurgence of measles, which had almost disappeared in Morocco, was largely attributed to the rise of anti-vaccine sentiments. Health officials noted that the global anti-vaccination movement influenced Moroccan parents, despite the country having measles vaccination programs in place since the 1960s. During the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination rates decreased due to lockdowns and fears of infection in hospitals. Some parents developed a 'vaccine phobia' following the pandemic, requiring health workers to conduct interviews explaining the benefits of vaccination. The government responded with awareness campaigns in schools and public warnings about false information spreading on social media, including misleading claims that the measles vaccine was actually a fourth dose of the COVID vaccine. The Ministry of Health plans to maintain these gains by continuing campaigns and awareness activities, taking into account the local specificities of different regions across the country. The ministry also mentioned strengthening the technical, managerial, and communication skills of health personnel, as well as accelerating the digitization of the information system, currently in a pilot phase, to create a national vaccination registry. Tags: measlesMeasles Vaccination
Maroc
23-05-2025
- Health
- Maroc
Morocco Actively Participates in WHA's 78th Session in Geneva
Morocco's delegation to the 78th session of the World Health Assembly (WHA), taking place in Geneva from May 19 to 27, has been involved in a series of intensive bilateral and multilateral engagements as part of this major global health event. Morocco's active participation reflects the Kingdom's ongoing commitment to international efforts aimed at building more resilient, equitable, and sustainable health systems, in line with the High Directives of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Minister of Health and Social Protection, Amine Tehraoui, told MAP. Speaking during the Assembly's plenary sessions, the official delivered both the address on behalf of the Francophone Group and Morocco's national statement. He highlighted the major structural health reforms initiated under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. In his remarks, Tehraoui stressed that 'the pace of global change calls for a redefinition of healthcare priorities, with a clear focus on achieving universal health coverage and enhancing the resilience and sustainability of health systems—especially in light of challenges such as climate change.' He also welcomed the approval of the WHO's pandemic agreement on Tuesday, describing it as 'a strong sign of our collective ability to rise above differences and work together for the health of all.' The Moroccan delegation participated in a series of parallel strategic meetings, including the Council of Arab Health Ministers, a high-level session on sustainable health financing organized with Africa CDC, and an event on local drug production. The minister also co-chaired a high-level side event devoted to the presentation of a draft resolution aimed at strengthening and promoting the global health workforce by 2030.
Ya Biladi
06-05-2025
- Health
- Ya Biladi
Morocco and WHO strengthen partnership for health system reform and regional cooperation
On Monday in Rabat, Minister of Health and Social Protection Amine Tahraoui met with Hanane Hassan Balkhi, the World Health Organization's Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, who is on a working visit to Morocco. The meeting is part of the ongoing cooperation between the Kingdom and the WHO, a key partner in the implementation of health programs and joint projects at both local and regional levels. Speaking to the press, Minister Tahraoui emphasized that Morocco is undergoing a profound and comprehensive reform of its health system. This includes structural reorganization and efforts to strengthen social justice in access to healthcare, particularly through the rollout of universal health coverage and the gradual expansion of the social protection system. He also reaffirmed Morocco's strong commitment to supporting regional and international initiatives aimed at advancing public health, achieving sustainable social development, and fostering innovation for the benefit of populations in the region and beyond. For her part, Balkhi reiterated the WHO's support for Morocco's health reform, commending the Kingdom's forward-looking royal vision, which seeks to enhance health outcomes and promote health sovereignty across the African continent. She stressed the importance of deepening cooperation and partnerships between Morocco and the WHO to advance shared public health objectives and strengthen health systems across the region, in line with the overarching goal of «health for all». In this context, Balkhi called for increased collaboration to launch new initiatives, highlighting Morocco's role as a vital link between the WHO and African countries, as well as a model in both public health and international cooperation.
